Veterans job fair draws crowd

Thursday

Within the first hour of being open, more than 100 veterans came to the Disabled American Veterans job fair in Jacksonville with resumes in hand.

Within the first hour of being open, more than 100 veterans came to the Disabled American Veterans job fair in Jacksonville with resumes in hand.

One transitioning Marine, Capt. Anthony Friel, brought part of his platoon with him.

“Marines are sought after in the civilian world,” said Friel, 33, of Park Ridge Ill. and a former company commander with 2nd Battalion 8th Marines. “I wanted to bring my transitioning men to bring up their self-worth. I’m leaving the Corps myself, and I wanted to create opportunities for my Marines and give them the easiest transition into the civilian world possible.”

At 9 a.m. Thursday the doors of the DAV opened to veterans as more than 30 employers stood by to conduct impromptu interviews. The Division of Workforce Solutions and the DAV cosponsored the event, which was open to only veterans from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. Civilian job seekers were able to attend at 10 a.m.

“I think I can take my leadership elsewhere and add tremendous value to an organization,” Friel said. “If you take the skill sets you learn in the Marine Corps to an outside organization, your skills will expand exponentially.”

Nobody joins the Corps for a job, Friel said.

“People join the Marine Corps due to a calling,” Friel said. “I wanted to take them to the job fair so they can find a new calling. The job fair is more valuable than a web page because people can get face-to-face time, make contacts and get questions answered.”

For the DAV chapter commander, John Bryant, it’s all about letting veterans know there are opportunities and jobs out there.

“They don’t know there are corporations looking to hire — good paying jobs looking for veterans,” said Bryant, a Marine Corps combat veteran of the Gulf War era.

The DAV also had a service officer on site to answer any disability and compensation questions regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“While the main goal is to allow community employers to talk to veterans, we also offer a DAV service officer to help vets with their claims,” Bryant said. “When some vets get out, they don’t know exactly what programs they rate. We show them there are education, medical and death benefits. We try to make them aware.”

The job fair should be a beacon of hope for veterans said Bryant.

“Don’t give up,” Bryant said. “There are employment opportunities out there. Be persistent. Have a plan and know what you want to do.

“And as a veteran, always remember your service organizations are here to help.